EL DOBLE PODER DESTRUCTIVO

Scows and punts can be seen in many of the archival photographs. Only a few of the images show these boats in any detail and rarely do they show a vessels interior structures. Of those that do, often only part of the interior construction is visible. While vessel scantling sizes are difficult to determine from the photographs, it is possible to at least remark on their appearance, such as if frames appear even in size and spacing.

Gold seekers built their boats from green timber making it necessary to keep the boats in the water once the hull was completed so that the wood did not dry and split. Figure 14 shows finished hulls in the water at lake Bennett. In the immediate foreground a large scow, three punts, a raft, a skiff and a bateau are evident. The large raft is made up of logs sandwiched together. There is no evidence of propulsion, such as mounts for oar sweeps, or a mast step. Numerous other boats in the background appear to be scows, double-ended bateaux, and wide- stern skiffs; many of these vessels have masts. Three men on shore are standing next to what appears to be a large scow.

Only one of the three punts (Figure 14) is entirely visible. All three punts are of a similar size but show some variability in construction detail. The two punts with visible bows show that the bow sections are sprung, making the bow narrower than the stern. All three punts have moderately flaring sides. Two of the punts have a raised notch on the transom for the steering oar, while the third punt has a notch cut into the transom for the same purpose. They also have raised wooden crutches or thole pins fore and aft of a central thwart. Both punts with the raised transom notch have inwales and gunwales but neither has a stringer. Their thwarts sit on blocks between two frames. Of these two boats, one has a small, unstayed mast. The other punt shows framing in the bow section, which might have been used to secure a mast. However, the framing

might only have been to create a space, which could be covered over to keep cargo dry. The third punt has no visible interior longitudinal supports and no mast.

Figure 14. Boats, scows and tent city along the shores of Bennett Lake, 1898. (University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections, AWC1904)

Neither scow in the water (Figure 14) shows flaring sides or a tapered bow. Both are stepped with a mast and the mast on the scow in the foreground is stayed. The probable scow on the shore has five planks per side. One very wide plank is possibly 10-12 in (25.4-30.05 cm), while the other planks appear to be about half that size. The overall dimensions of the vessel are undeterminable as one end is partially obscured from view. Judging by the height of the men, it appears to be at least 15 ft (4.57 m) long and about 3 ft (91 cm) from the gunwale to the bilge.

There are two bateau-class vessels in the foreground of Figure 14. A skiff with a sharp bow, narrow transom, and slightly flaring sides with five visible frames is sitting next to the large

scow in the water. A raised notch for a steering oar is visible on the transom. No mast is stepped but thole pins can be seen in the midsection of the vessel.

The second bateau-class boat in the foreground (Figure 14) is a small double-ended vessel with slightly flaring sides. The vessel’s planking is fastened on the outside of the moderately raked, straight stem and stern. Visible longitudinal framing includes an inwale, a gunwale, and stringer just below the aft and amidships thwarts. The bow has a small foredeck, and nine frames can be seen. The frames appear similar in size and somewhat evenly spaced. Longitudinal planks form a sole over the floors. No thole pins, steering crutch, or rowlocks are visible, but there are two sets of blocks between the inwale and gunwale approximately where rowing stations would be. The angle that the photograph is taken from prevents us from seeing if a mast step is present.

Figure 15. Klondikers embarking at Bennett Lake, British Columbia, June 1, 1898. (University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections, Hegg229)

A photograph from Lake Bennett (Figure 15) shows good detail of the interior of several boats. The image highlights the simplicity of some of the Klondiker vessels, both in form and construction. In this photograph, three large scows, a large skiff and two smaller skiffs can be

seen in the foreground. A cluster of boats can be seen in the background; many of them appear to be large skiffs with masts.

The scow in the foreground has four wide planks and thirteen visible frames that are similar in size, and spaced somewhat evenly. The planking may be full length as there is no indication of butt blocks between any frames. The frames are rectangular in cross section, with the shorter edge against the planking and the longer edge extending into the scow. There is no full length longitudinal bracing, but there is a short longitudinal brace in the forward section near the gunwale. In addition, there are smaller longitudinal braces for thwarts. The stayed mast is lashed to a cross beam in the far forward section of the vessel. The midship thwart sits on a short timber suspended between two frames. All of the thwarts have a cut triangular knee securing them to a nearby frame. The crutches for rowing are little more than two pieces of timber nailed to the planks and rising above the sheer strake. The top of a steering crutch can be seen at the stern.

The other two large scows visible in Figure 15 appear to be similar in size to each other. These scows are loaded with goods so their internal structures are not visible. However, both scows have a brace or thwart in the forward third of the vessel just in front of their stayed masts. In the scow closer to shore, the mast appears to be lashed to this thwart. Sandwiched layers of half-round logs form a kind of deck structure on top of the forward thwart in both boats. Both masts have what is likely a furled square sail attached to a top yard. Thole pins for steering oars can be seen in the center the bow and stern on the scow closer to shore. The other scow appears to have thole pins offset on starboard side of the stern, while the port side is obscured from view.

The large skiff in the foreground (Figure 15) has three wide planks and one smaller sheer plank that are fastened to an inner stem and covered with a false stem. Interior framing includes twelve visible frames of similar size and spacing, a gunwale but no inwale, and five thwarts, one of which has a large hole in the center, where a mast would be stepped. Four rowing stations can be discerned by the presence of blocks, fixed between frames, on both the port and starboard sides. The blocks have two holes drilled in them, presumably for thole pins. A steering crutch is mounted to the transom. The number “1006” is painted on the bow. The NWMP registered vessel 1006 as a “boat” with five occupants, all from New Zealand (Library and Archives Canada, RG 18 D, Series 1-4). There are two small skiffs, partially visible in the foreground of Figure 15. The skiff closer to shore has eight visible frames, an inwale and four narrow thwarts.

The vessel appears to be at least 10 ft (3.05 m) in length and of lapstrake construction, with the frames cut on the plank side to accommodate the planking. There is no steering crutch on the transom. The second small skiff is a similar size with seven visible frames that appear to be evenly sized and spaced. It appears to be carvel construction as the frames rest flat against the planking. This skiff also has a small foredeck, an inwale, and one visible thwart. The stem has a large metal eye bolt protruding from the top with a painter attached to it. The transom has both a notch cut in it and two pieces of wood nailed either side of the notch to act as a steering crutch.

Figure 16. Klondikers in scows sailing down Marsh Lake, Yukon Territory, June 1898. (University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections, Hegg713)

A large scow can be seen in the foreground of Figure 16 showing the gold rush flotilla with sprit and square sails set on Lake Marsh in 1898. The scow has five visible planks, a stayed mast forward of the midsection, and a large square sail. The sail has a top yard and a boom with braces attached to the yard ends. A large tent can be seen erected in the aft section of the boat. Six people can be seen on the scow, with one man holding a steering oar at the stern, and one woman sitting on a chair at the bow. Wooden crutches with oars resting in them can be seen in

the forward section of the scow on the port and starboard sides. Two triangular shaped oar crutches offset from the center can also be seen at the bow.

Figure 17. Klondikers constructing scows at Bennett, British Columbia, September 1899. (University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections, AWC1707)

Large freight scows in various stages of construction can be seen in Figure 17, taken at Lake Bennett in September of 1899. The scow in the foreground has six visible planks above the water and one plank that is visible, but partially underwater. The scow sits empty in the water, so it is likely that it has a total of seven or perhaps eight planks per side. Eight frames are visible with three of the frames extending above the sheer and acting as stanchions around the perimeter of the hold. Large stanchions can be seen around the perimeter of the holds in the other three scows in the water. Three of the scows in the water have large fore and aft decks. Two of the decked scows also have thole pins at the bow and stern. None of the scows have a mast. The three scows in the water in the background appear to be slipped at a dock, and may be there to “take up” water in order to seal the plank seams.

King’s Mill at Carcross built similar large freight scows. One image entitled, “Cattle Scow Ready to Launch – King’s Mill, Caribou, U.Y.C.” (not shown, Yukon Archives H.C. Barley Fonds 4677) is of a large scow with six planks per side, a fore and aft deck, and ten stanchions surrounding the hold. Three sets of thole pins are at the stern, one in the center and one on either side. No mast is apparent.

Figure 18. Klondikers crossing frozen Lake Laberge with boats and sleds outfitted with sails, Yukon Territory, 1897. (University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections, La

Roche2101)

Three bateau-class boats can be seen (Figure 18) traveling across the ice on sleds with their square sails set. The boats are similar in design and size. Judging by the people in the picture, the boats appear to be at least 15 ft (4.57) long. The boat in front has five planks per side, while the other two boats have six planks per side. All three boats have straight, raking stems and sterns with a slight bottom rocker. Each has a masts is stepped in the forward third of the boat. The sails on the front and rear boat appear to be canvas cloth, while the sail on the middle boat looks as though it might be a canvas tent that has been modified into a sail. All three sails have a top yard, and the sail on the front boat also has a boom. A steering crutch can be

seen extending up from the stern on each boat. Oars can be seen on the middle and rear boat approximately where a rowing station would likely be located. Gold seekers’ outfits are estimated at being roughly a ton of weight, roughly 2,000 pounds (907 kg). Based on this assumption, and the number of people per boat in Figure 18, each boat would then be capa carrying between 2 and 4 tons (1,814 and 3,628 kg).

ble of

Figure 19. Klondikers boatbuilding, possibly at either Bennett Lake or Lindeman Lake, ca. 1898.

Figure 19 shows a bateau-class vessel being built frame-first, upside down on the shore. The ve

l f

u-type boats of similar construction and dimensions, with curved stems and raked sterns. Each of the three vessels has eight visible smaller planks with one (University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections, UW22172)

ssel appears to be at least 18 ft (5.49 m) in length, with a narrow bottom and flaring sides. The planking appears narrow and is rebated into the curved stem. Shadows can be seen on the planks on the inside of the hull, which may indicate that this is lapstrake construction. Eight frames are visible. The transverse frames are made up of three separate pieces of dimensiona timber. Several of the people are seen holding hand tools, and it is interesting to note that one o the women is holding a handsaw.

wide sheer plank. The seams are visibly sealed and indicate that the planks do not extend the f length of the boats; rather the strakes are made up of shorter planks that have been jointed together. No internal structures are visible in any of the vessels. Each boat is fitted with a stayed mast forward of the midsection, while thole pins can be seen on each of the outside boats, a the midsection. Additional thole pins are visible on all three boats at the stern. Judging by the height of the men, the boats appear to be 22-26 ft (6.71-7.92 m) in length. Similarly to the three bateau-class vessels in Figure 18, the vessels in Figure 20 would likely carry between 2 to 4 to (1,814 and 3,628 kg).

ull

ft of

ns

Figure 20. Three boats with people and freight, either on Bennett Lake or Lindeman Lake, ca. 1898. (University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections, UW26724)

ennett, possibly the Homan River site. At least seventeen boats are visible in this photograph, all skif

Figure 21 likely shows one of the commercial sawmill and boat building yards at Lake B

fs of a single design and a similar size. There are seven visible frames in one of the upright boats in the foreground. This boat, along with the boat next to it, shows a lack of framing in the bow section, with a large deck-like structure appearing to provide the strength in the forward section. The foredeck sits below the gunwale. The boat that is being framed in the

foreground also indicates that it will have a similar build, as there is absence of frames in th forward section. Inwales can be seen in the three upright boats. Gunwales can also be seen i these boats as well as in the overturned boat in the foreground. One of the upright boats also shows a longitudinal stringer extending from the forward deck aft, underneath the visible thwa

e n

rt.

Figure 21. Boat building at Bennett Lake during Klondike Gold Rush, 1897-98. (E.H. Hegg, Eva Davies Collection, Library and Archives Canada, accession number 1954-151, item 18, C-

004688)

t (92 cm) from the turn of the bilge to the gunwale. The overall beam appears to be between 5

ts The boats in Figure 21 appear to be at least 16 ft (4.88 m) in length, and approximately 3 f

and 6 ft (1.52 and 1.83 m). The boats are being built frame first and appear to have six planks per side, and fore-and-aft bottom planking. The bottoms have a discernable rocker. None of the boa have masts or thole pins along the sides, however these items might have been added at a later date. The transoms of at least two of the boats show cutouts for a steering oar, with thole pins protruding from either side of the cutout.

Figure 22 shows eleven somewhat visible boats in the foreground including three upturned skiffs appearing to be of similar design and dimensions. All three have slightly flaring sides and some amount of bottom rocker. They have six planks per side, with fore-and-aft bottom planking.

Figure 22. Boat building at Bennett, Bennett Lake, British Columbia, ca. 1898. (University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections, Hegg698)

ose type and construction details are difficult to discern. The aft section of the

ter) has Also visible on shore in Figure 22 are what appear to be an upright skiff and an upside- down vessel, wh

upright skiff shows four, evenly sized and spaced frames, and an inwale. Other internal

structures are obscured from view. Two visible scows, along with several bateau-class boats can be seen anchored at the water’s edge. The skiff (partially obscured by the scow in the wa

a large foredeck. The vessel in the bottom corner of the picture shows a small breasthook at the bow. Of the boats in the water, only the boat in the bottom corner of the picture shows any clear internal framing. In this boat nine, unevenly sized frames can be seen. Longitudinal framing in this vessel includes inwales and a stringer.

Figure 23 shows several men working at a whipsaw pit, with two boats at the water’s edge, and several other indistinguishable bo tsa farther down the shore. The two boats at the

iffs water’s edge are large skiffs. The upright boat has twelve, evenly spaced visible frames. The transom is in place, but none of the side planking has been fixed to the frames. As with the sk in Figure 21, the upright skiff in Figure 23 appears to not have any frames in the bow. The second boat, which is upside down, shows that the bottom planking is fore-and-aft, and the bottom appears to have a slight fore-and-aft camber.

Figure 23. Boat building at Lindeman Lake, British Columbia, 1897. (University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections, La Roche2057)

ennett, illustrating that boats were built in any space not already occupied by a tent. The Figure 24 demonstrates the combined use of space for boat building and living at Lake B

clearing in the foreground has at least six scows under and four bateaux and skiffs under construction. Several large scows can be seen in the background. Two of the scows in the

foreground have deck beams in place. Two of the skiffs shown in the foreground have me sitting or standing on their substantial deck structures; both have foredecks and side decks, least one of the boats has an aft deck.

n and at

Figure 24. Boat building at Abbot Cove, Bennett Lake, British Columbia, May 1898. (University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections, Hegg266)

everal of the boats that operated in the ferry system have been documented in archival large double-ended carvel vessel with two masts can be seen in images at both

ery s 7.3 Summary

S

photographs. A

Crater Lake and Long Lake. It cannot be determined if this is the same vessel, or if two v similar vessels were operating at the same time in both lakes. Other smaller boats in photograph